Taper attachment for lathes



Aug. 3, 1937. TYSON 2,089,078

, TAPER ATTACHMENT FOR LATHES Filed May 20, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR FRA NK Tns o/v W ATTORNEY Aug. 3, 1937; TY 2,089,078

TAPER ATTACHMENT FOR LATHES v I Filed May 20, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet zINVENTOR FRANK Trs o/v 'ATTORNEY Aug. 3, 1937. F. TYSON 78 TAPERATTACHMENT FOR LATHES Filed May 20, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 v I I i i vINVENTOR N FRANK TYSON M W x E ATTORNEY Aug. 3, 1937.

F. TYSON TAPER ATTACHMENT FOR LATHES Filed May 20, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR FRANK TYSON BY aw TORNEY Patented Aug. 3, 1937 UNl'lED STATS FiiE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to taper attachments for lathes such as may beprovided for automatically machining tapered or coned surfaces on metalstructures both exteriorly thereof and in bores therein.

The chief objects of the invention are to provide attachments of thecharacter mentioned that may be easily and quickly mounted on andremoved from the lathe; that are applicable to lathes of standard makewithout requiring material alteration of the latter; that have a widerange of angular adjustability so as to cut practically any taperdesired; to provide against back lash or lost motion so that uniformityof cut is achieved; and to provide an apparatus of the charactermentioned wherein power is applied to the cutting tool by mechanismdisposed in the plane of movement of the tool, in all positions ofangular adjustment thereof, to the end that torsional strain in theapparatusis obviated. Other objects will be manifest.

Of the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a plan View of one embodiment of the invention and afragmentary portion of a turret lathe upon which it is operativelymounted;

Figure 2 is a section, on a larger scale, taken on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan View of another embodiment of the invention, and afragmentary portion of an engine lathe upon which it is operativelymounted;

Figure 5 is a section on a larger scale, taken on the line 55 of Figure4; and 1 Figure 6 is a section, on a larger scale, taken on the line 66of Figure 4.

Referringnow to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a turretlathe of standard construction comprising a bed ill formed withlongitudinal slideways H, and an integral headstock H2 at one end ofsaid bed. Extending from the headstock I2 over the slideways II is adriven spindle that carries a rotatable work-holding chuck l3, thelatter being shown With a workunit M mounted therein. At the oppositeend of the lathe from the headstock l2, a turret slide I5 is mountedupon the slideways ll, said slide carrying the usual fixed center turretIt. A pilot wheel ll is provided for manually adjusting the position ofthe slide longitudinally of said slideways, and a feed shaft 58automatically reciprocates the slide. Mounted upon the slideways H,between the headstock l2 and the turret slide 15, is a cross-slidecarriage l9 that is manually movable longitudinally of the slideways bymeans of the usual handwheel 2t. Mounted upon the carriage I9 is a crossslide 2! that is manually movable transversely of the bed and slidewaysH by means of the usual feed screw (not shown) that is operated by thehandwheel 22. Near one of its ends the cross slide 2i is formed with asquare boss 23, and rising centrally therefrom is a fixed cylindricalpost .24.

All of the foregoing equipment is of standard manufacture and need notbe described in greater detail. The improved taper attachmentconstituting the subject matter of one embodiment of this invention iscarried upon the cross slide 2!.

As is most clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, thetaper attachmentcomprises a generally cylindrical cap-like fixture 26 that is suitablybored to fit over the post 24, and at one local region is formed with anaxially extending slot 21, there being apertured ears 28 at each side ofsaid slot forreceiving bolts '29, 29 by means of which the fixture isclamped to the post 24 so as normally not to be movable relativelythereof, but to be capable of angular adjustment upon occasion. Thefixture 26 is formed locally upon its bottom margin with a downwardlyextending portion 30 that rests upon the boss 23 and providesadditionalsupport for a tool and tool operating mechanism presently tobe described.

Projecting radially from the fixture ,26, in the region of thesupporting portion 30 and near the bottom of the fixture, is an integralbracket 32. A second integral bracket 33 is formed .on the fixture 26above bracket 33 and in spaced relation thereto. Extending through thefree ends of brackets 32, 33 is a spindle 34 that is secured inlowermost bracket .32 by means of a set screw 35. The free ends of thebrackets 32, 33 are rounded concentrically with the axis of spindle 3 1,the radius at the end of bracket 32 being considerably larger'than theradius of bracket 33.

Supported upon bracket 32 is a slide-support 31 that is formed on oneside, at the end thereof, with a laterally projecting ear 38 that fitsnicely within the space between brackets 32, 33 and is swivelled onspindle 34. The bottom face of the slide support 3'! is formed with adownwardly extending arcuate apron 39 that is concentric with spindle 34and abuts the rounded free endof bracket 32, there being a cone-head setscrew All threaded through said apron and adapted to engage in a slot 4!formed with tapered sides, which slot is formed in the arcuate end ofsaid bracket. The arrangement permits angular adjustment of the support3i relatively of the fixture 25, the extent of said adjustment beingcontrolled by other factors subsequently to be explained. Preferably thebottom face of the apron 39 is 5 formed with a downwardly projectingindicator lug 42 that overlies the outer face of a short, arcuate lip 43formed on the free end of bracket 32, said lip being suitably calibratedto indicate the angular position of the slide support with relation tothe fixture 25.

Secured to the top face of the slide support 3i, as by the screws 45, $5is a dovetail slideway 45 that may overhang the end of said supportremote from the ear 38. Mounted for longitudinal movement in theslideway 46 is a dovetail slide 4?, and mounted upon the latter, in ashallow longitudinal recess in the top face thereof, is a rack 48 thatextends substantially beyond both ends of said slide. The rack 48 issecured to the slide ll by a plurality of cap screws 49, 49, and aplurality of Z-clamps are secured to the slideway 46 and abut a lateraland the top face of the rack 48 to strengthen the rack and slide againstthe forces set up during operation.

That end of the slide support 31 that carries the ear 33 is positionedon that side of the attachment that is nearest the work l4, so that theattachment may be positioned relatively close to the work. That end ofthe rack 48 that is closest the work has a tool fixture 5| securedthereto, and a tool 52 is removably mounted in said fixture 5|.

The teeth of the rack 48 are on the side thereof nearest spindle 34, andmesh with a pinion 54 that is keyed to the hub portion of the cup member55 of a cone clutch, said cup member being journaled upon the spindle34. A sleevebushing 56 is mounted in the bracket 33 about the spindle34, the upper end of said bushing supporting a wear-disc 57 that bearsagainst the lower end face of clutch member 55 and adjacent bottom faceof pinion 54. Overlying the pinion 54 and retaining it in place on thewear disc 5? is a cap 58 that is secured, by a pair of cap-screws 59,59, to arcuate bracket-like arms 60, 68 formed integral with the fixture2E and extending more than half-way about the periphery of the pinion54. The cap 58 also assists in supporting the clutch member 55, the cupportion of which rests upon an annular finished surface on the top ofthe cap.

The plug or cone member 62 of the aforementioned cone clutch isjournaled upon spindle 34, above cup-member 55, said plug member havinga concentric, upwardly extending, axial portion 62 that is interiorlythreaded to receive the exteriorly threaded hub portion 63 of ahandwheel 64. Said handwheel is journaled upon the spindle 34, which isof reduced diameter, as shown at 34*, Figure 2, in its upper endportion. The handwheel 64 is retained upon the spindle by means oflock-nuts 35, there being a thrust washer 6B interposed between saidlock-nuts and the upper end of the handwheel hub 63. The

65 arrangement is such that by rotating the handwheel 64 the cone clutchmember 62 may be moved axially along spindle 34 so as to have frictionaldriving engagement with cup member 55, whereby oscillating movement ofthe clutch members will impart longitudinal reciprocatory movement tothe rack 48 and tool 52.

For imparting oscillating movement to the cone clutch, a crank 69 issecured upon the axial extension 62 of cone member 52, the free end ofsaid crank being pivotally connected to one end of a link 10. The otherend of link 10 is pivotally connected to a bracket H secured to theturret slide l5, the arrangement being such that the reciprocatingmovement of the latter imparts oscillating movement to the crank 69which in turn reciprocates the rack 48.

It is believed that the operation of the taper attachment readily willbe apparent from the foregoing description. Usually the fixture 2G is soangularly mounted upon post 24 that the latter and spindle 34 are inalignment in the central longitudinal plane of the cross slide 2|. Theslide support 3! is angularly adjustable about 18 each way from aposition that is at right angles to the said central longitudinal planeof the cross slide. The angular adjustability of said support 37relatively of fixture 26 is limited by the ends of the respective arms60 of the fixture, said ends being abutted by the slide 41 at theopposite limits of adjustment of said slide support. The range ofadjustability of the slide support usually is suflicient to cut thedesired taper on the Work, but if greater taper is desired the fixture26 may be adjusted angularly on the post 24 simply by loosening theclamping screws 29. By turning the handwheel 64 the cone member 62 maybe loosened and thereafter turned angularly, together with crank 69thereon, relatively of clutch member 55, the arrangement providing anadjustment by means of which the feed of the cutting tool 52 moreaccurately may be controlled in its various angles of operation, andalso providing means for rendering the taper cutting attachmentinoperative if desired.

The construction of the apparatus is such that power is applied to thetool by mechanism disposed in the plane of the tool in all positions ofadjustment of the apparatus, thereby substantially eliminating torqueand making for uniformity of operation. The tool moves into and out ofengagement with the work with each reciprocation of the turret slide I5,any back lash in the gears being taken up before the tool engages thework so that a true and uniform cut is made. The attachment may behandled as a complete unit in mounting it upon or removing it from thecross slide, and it achieves the other advantages set out in theforegoing statement of objects.

In Figures 4 to 6 of the drawings is shown another embodiment of theinvention, which embodiment is especially applicable for use on enginelathes. The engine lathe shown comprises the usual bed 15, slideway 16,a cross-slide carriage I! mounted on said slideways, and a cross slide18 mounted upon said carriage. A handwheel on the end of a screw BI isprovided for moving the cross slide 18 upon its carriage l7,transversely of the lathe. At one end the bed 15 is formed with theusual headstock 82, and projecting therefrom, over the slideway, is arotatable spindle that carries a work-holding chuck 83, the latter beingshown with a workunit 84 therein. Extending longitudinally of themachine, along the front side thereof, is the usual lead screw 85 andfeed rod 86, the latter having suitable driving connections (not shown)by which it rotates a determinate number of revolutions in one directionand then reverses and rotates the same number of revolutions in theopposite direction. The top face of the cross slide 18 is formed withthe usual circular boss 81.

The taper attachment used on the above-described lathe comprises afixture 99 that rests upon the top face of the cross slide 18 and isrecessed on its under side at .91 to receive the boss 8;! on said crossslide. The fixture 90 is radially slottedat 92,;and suitable cap-screw93 traverses said slot :for the purpose of clamping said fixture tightlyupon said boss. At one side the fixture 90 is formed with an integraljournal bracket portion 190 said fixture being so angularlyrpositionedthat bracket portion 913 overhangs the lateral margin of the cross slideIE on the side thereof remote from .the work 84. A spindle 95 having endportions of reduced diameter has its lower end portion rotatably mountedin a suitable axial :recessgin bossfll. The spindle .95 extends upwardlythrough an aperture of proper size in the fixtureilll, and there is athrust washer 95 positioned upon the top :face of the fixture, aboutsaid spindle, and a bushing '91 about the spindle extending upwardlyfrom the thrust washer 96 to the reduced upper end portion of thespindle, as'shown in Figure5.

J ournaled upon the bushing 91, with its bottom face resting upon:washer 96, is a-worrn gear 99 thatis in mesh with a worm :IIl0,thelatter being journaled in bearing brackets IOI, -IOI that are mountedupon :the fixture 9.0. One end of worm I is extendedconsiderably beyondits bearing and has a square ,end portion I'il2,,'1or receiving a socketwrench or other suitable tool .bywhich it may be rotated, for rotatingworm gear 99 about spindle 95. Journaled upon bushing 91 and secured tothe top faceof :worm gear 99 is a relatively thick sleeve I I13 that isformed with an integral,-tangentially disposed, slide support I04. Thelatter is formed, in its outer lateral face, with a horizontal,longitudinallyextending dovetail slideway I05, and. mounted inthe'latter isja dovetail slide I06. The slide I06 is formed with alongitudinally extending bore I01 in which is mounted an elongate,cylindrical tool holder I08 that carries a suitable cutting tool I09 inthe end thereof adjacent the work 84. The slide I has a longitudinalslot IIIl extending into the bore Ill! and bolts III engaging respectiveears II2 on opposite sides of said slot are provided for clamping thetool holder I08 within the bore I01.

For reciprocating the slide I86, a rack H5 is mounted in alongitudinally extending recess in the inner face thereof, and theadjacent surface of the slideway I 05 may be longitudinally recessed toreceive the toothed side of said rack. The rack I 65 is meshed with apinion I it that has access to the rack through a slot 1, Figure 6,formed in the rear wall of the slide support I04. The pinion I I6 iskeyed upon the reduced upper end por-' tion of spindle 95 and rests upona thrust washer I I9 mounted upon the upper end of sleeve Hi3 andbushing 97.

The pinion H6 is meshed with a gear I2I that is keyed to the upper endportion of a vertical countershaft I22 that is journaled in the bracketportion 90 of the fixture 90, said gear resting upon a thrust washer I23therein. The gear IHI and pinion II6 are securely retained in place bymeans of a cap I24 that overlies said gear and partly overlies saidpinion, there being suitable thrust washers I25 positioned between thecap and the respective gear and pinion. The cap I24 is apertured toreceive the upper end portions of spindle 95 and countershaft I22, andis secured to bracket structure W by cap screws I26, I26. The cap I24also serves to impart rigidity to the upper end portion of said bracketstructure.

Also keyed to the countershaft I22, below the gear I2I in a suitableslot formed in bracket structure 90 is a spiral gear I29 that rests upona thrust washer I30 .in :said bracket structure. The spiral gear 129 ismeshed witha spiral gear I3I that is positioned in a suitable recess I32formed in said bracket structure, said gear 'I3I being mounted upon ahorizontal shaft I33 that has one end journaled in said bracketstructure, and extends therefrom toward the front of the lathe. There isa cover I34 over the recess I32.

Mounted upon the front face of the cross-slide carriage H is a bracketof .irregular shape generallydesignated I31, and extending laterallyandb-upwardly on said bracket are spaced arms I 38, I38 in whichtheshaft I33 is journaled for rotary and :axial movement. The shaft I33is formed with an elongate keyway .I39, and journaled on said shaft,between arms I38, is a spiral gear I49. On one side of gear I the hubthereof extends through an arm I38 and is formed with clutch teeth thatare engageable with complementally shaped teeth formed on one end of amanuallymovable'clutc'h member I50 that is slidably keyed for axialmovement upon shaft I33. The gear I40 is meshed with a spiral gear I4Ithat is mounted upon the upper end of a vertical shaft I42 that isjournaled in suitable bearing portions I43, I43 of bracket I31, thelower end of shaft I42 being provided 'withaspiral gear I441. The lowerend portion of bracket I3! is formed with a :rearwardly extending,bifurcated, bearing structure I45 in which isfjournaled an idler spiralgear I48 that is meshed on one-side with spiral gear "I44, and theopposite side with a spiral gear I 4'! that is keyed-to feedrod =86. Thebearing structure I45 straddles the gear I4! so as .to'move the latterlongitudinally of the .feed rodBBwhen the cross-slide carriage :llmoveslongitudinally of the lathe, and said. :feed .rod isv 'formed with anelongate keyway I48, Figure 4, permitting such lateral movement of thegear I46.

In the operation of the device, the feed rod 86 is suitably connectedwith power means, in the usual manner, so that it rotates for adeterminate interval in one direction, and then reverses and rotates fora determinate interval in the opposite direction. The gearing of thedevice is of such ratio that the tool IE9 is fed into the work 84 whilethe feed rod rotates in one direction and withdrawn therefrom while itrotates in the opposite direction. By means of the clutch I50 the feedof the tool may be halted while the feed rod continues its rotation,thus allowing for gauging of the work. The device is adjustable so as tocut tapers up to 30, and thus is available for most all taper-cuttingoperations. The cross-slide carriage I1 may be moved longitudinally ofthe bed .15, and the cross slide 78 may be moved transversely of thesaid carriage while the device is in operation. The device may behandled as a unit, and is easily mounted upon the lathe and removedtherefrom. The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 4 to 6possesses substantially all of the advantages of the device shown inFigures l and 2, which advantages are set out in the foregoing statementof objects.

Modification may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the appended claims, which are not limitedwholly to the specific construction shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for cutting tapers, the combination with an engine lathecomprising the usual cross-slide carriage, cross slide thereon,rotatable work-holding chuck, and feed rod driven bination with a lathecomprising a cross slide, a

post projecting upwardly therefrom, and a power member movingperiodically in opposite directions, of a fixture mounted upon said postand adjustable angularly about the axis thereof, a vertical spindlecarried by said fixture in offset relation to said post, a slide supportadjustable angularly about the axis of said spindle, a slide on saidslide support, a cutting tool carried by said slide, a rack attached tosaid slide, a pinion coaxial with said spindle and meshed with saidrack, and means for oscillating said pinion through the agency of theaforesaid power means.

3. In apparatus for cutting tapers, the combination with a turret lathecomprising a reciprocating turret slide, a cross slide, and a postprojecting upwardly from the latter, of a fixture mounted upon said postand adjustable angularly about the axis thereof, a vertical spindlecarried by said fixture in offset relation to said post, a slide supportadjustable angularly about said spindle, a slide on said slide support,a cutting tool carried at one end of said slide, a rack extendinglongitudinally of said slide, a pinion coaxial with said spindle, acrank arm having operative connection with said pinion, and a linkconnecting said crank arm to said turret slide, whereby reciprocation ofthe latter oscillates said crank arm and pinion to effect reciprocationof the cutting tool.

.4. A combination as defined in claim 3 including a clutch between thepinion and the crank arm, and means on the end of the spindle formanually operating said clutch.

5. In apparatus for cutting tapers, the combination with a lathecomprising a cross slide, and a power driven member moving periodicallyin opposite directions, of a taper cutting attachment removably mountedupon said cross slide and comprising a vertically arranged spindle, aslide support adjustable angularly about the axis of said spindle, aslide in said slide support, a cutting tool carried by said slide, arack extending longitudinally of said slide, a pinion arranged coaxiallyof said spindle and meshed with said rack, and means operativelyconnecting said pinion with said power driven member to oscillate saidpinion and thereby to reciprocate said slide.

6. In a taper cutting device for lathes, the combination of a verticalspindle mounted upon the adjustable cross slide of the lathe, a powerelement consisting of a gear journaled upon said spindle, a toolcarrying member consisting of a rack meshed with said gear andadjustable about the axis of said gear to vary the angle of the rackwith relation to the work in the lathe, and means for oscillating saidgear to impart reciprocating movement to the rack and tool, said meansbeing independent of the cross slide and operable in all positions ofthe latter.

' FRANK TYSON.

